RL came in and turned everything about and upside down, I now have a full time job in the field I have been studying for two years and I'll be required to do more studying and complete more certificates, I'm so excited and even more so to get these chapters pumped out for you guys. I'll work extra hard and hope to not have you all wait too long between chapters... so hang in there while I beat RL into its place and find balance. But above all my readers enjoy.

This has been edited to the best of my ability.

Warnings: M. M/M Yaoi. Supernatural, Language, Violence. The plot is mine; warnings will change with future chapters.

Chapter 3: The Blue Spark

Shada flopped down onto his beat-up couch. The bedchamber Ella had given him was standard at best. A bed by the one door that lead out to a small balcony that was crumbling on the side of the castle, this couch and fire place and that was it. It was a huge step down from what he was used to. However, he wouldn't be here long enough to worry about it... or the Demon who tried to conceal himself within the shadows, "come out now Siamun," Shada sighed.

"Wait, you knew I was here?" the older Demon stepped out into the dim light looking generally surprised. Siamun had been working on his stealth for centuries and still couldn't pull it off, but where he lacked in hiding from his target he made up for it in other skills.

"Yes," Shada rolled over onto his side; he couldn't remember the last time he slept and this was the first night in awhile that promised it.

"Ah, there's too much light in the room," he said thoughtfully glancing at the low burning torch on the other side of the room, "turn out the lights and go back out, then come back in."

"How about you turn out the light and go back out, I'll count to a billon and when I reach one, you come-"

"Someone's at the door," Siamun had his weapon drawn and was instantly by the door, that opened and Ella strolled in like she owned it, which was partly true and Shada made a mental note to cast a stronger spell on the entrances of the room. "Do you know how to knock?" Siamun growled.

"You want to be paid?" Ella waved a hand and every flame torch in the room was lit. Shada sighed again and pulled his tired body off the couch and onto his feet and faced her, "five hundred gold coins now and five hundred more when you're done." Ella tossed a bag towards them, landing on the floor a few feet from her. Shada walked about the couch and lent on the back of it. Siamun walked over and picked up the bag of gold and stood beside Shada as he opened it and gave a low whistle.

"The job?" Shada was interested in why she was over paying them for one target.

"I want you to kill the Demon Lord's Mate Yugi," Shada noticed Siamun twitch and glace up at her. "I want you to kill Kyoshi his lovers Orrick and the half breed and their friends, the Healer Seto his Mate their Pet and the Witch in training Anzu," Shada narrowed his eyes at her. "I want you to kill Mahado and Touzoku. I want Kyoshi's Mate imprisoned in our dungeons." Shada took the bag of gold from Siamun who had already begun to drool and he didn't want the old Demon blowing their money on drinks and females at the seedy little tavern in the village.

A thousand gold to slay Dragons, and two of them just happened to be Great Ones. Plus, winter would soon be upon them and the Mating season had practically started, since Shada could feel the itch already and had yet to cast the spell that would block it. Dragons though were at their peak of aggression and power this time of year. It was common knowledge that Dragons couldn't stand the cold, it made them irritable, sluggish and tired, quick to attack, winter had also been the hardest time of year for that breed, for the foolish ones anyway that gave birth their young in the winter only to have them die. The Mating season had the singles hunting about for a Mate to bunker down with their chosen Mate and hibernate through the winter. "If we wait a few weeks, the chill will set in and we can-"

"You are an assassin are you not?" She glanced him up and down as if the skills he possessed would be instantly on display for her judgment.

"We will do it," Siamun suddenly said, Shada glared at his old partner, the Dragon that belonged to Kyoshi would prove to be the most difficult, the ones that were already Mated usually were.

"Very good," Ella moved towards the door and Siamun ignored Shada's glaring. "By the way," she stopped and glanced back at them. "I wish for you to locate the Witch Ishizu Ishtar and rescue her from Touzoku'sclutches. I expect her to be before me in good health by week's end along with Touzoku's head so I can mount him on the dining room wall beside his mother just in time for Dragon's night." Ella left the room with a cackle shutting the door behind her.

Shada growled wanting nothing more to turn her into his target, drive his blade right through her black shrivelled up heart and leave her corpse to hang in the garden for the birds to pick at, "Things are worse then I originally thought, my friend," Siamun patted his shoulder, "we have our work cut out for us," he then vanished from the room.

'Say it,' his voice echoed in the vast cavern. She couldn't answer him verbally, the gag was so tight that it drew blood in the corners of her mouth, she couldn't even whimper. He had stolen her voice to prevent her casting spells, gagged her for good measure, blinded her and chained her here in the deepest part of his lair, on a small bit of rock that was surrounded by yards of a bottomless pit. However, she hadn't seen it when he brought her down here or when he chained her here like a wild animal. It was the coldness she felt against her bare skin that gave it away, the darkness was always cold down here, so deep and dark underground that no sunlight could ever reach her. How'd she know, she's seen it many times though, he had never put her here before. No, the Beast had always saved this place for his prey that he intended to bestow his most horrific and painful acts of torture, before giving them what they would spend days begging for, death, but it would be slow and just as painful.

She endured it all; she took his wrath, his torture without having asked for death, yet. She tilted her head back, her arms suspended above her head, the cuffs bit into her wrists as the chains pulled her arms taut, her body stretched by gravity and her toes barely touched the dirt floor. She was cracking, slipping into that state of mind that everyone who had come here before her... death was a sweet embrace that licked at the edges of her tired, fogged mind. "I only want my brother back," She replied to the only thing she had left to hold onto, to ground her on why she would endure all this for, Malik. Tears streamed from underneath the blind fold and down her bruised cheeks, a spell projecting her voice straight from her mind, so clear that it was as if the words were coming straight from her own lips.

'As do I, Witch.'

"I have no other family."

'Nor do I.' His growl rumbled and echoed about her, dust and a few rocks fell from the walls or ceiling.

"They took everything from me, is it so wrong that I want a little bit of it back, at any cost?" Her whole body ached, her mind twisted and fogged from lack of sleep, pain, cold and starvation, her arms felt as though they were ready to pop from their sockets, her spine had been stretched for so long that she couldn't feel or move her legs, even breathing was hard. "Please, please... let me go," she sobbed, knowing that this time round, there might not be a way out and the Beast would surely let her die down here, rot away until nothing was left of her but dust and still he would keep her.

'Please?!' He roaredand she whimpered as his large talons sliced into the soft skin of her back and sides as he grabbed her in one of his claws and squeezed her until she couldn't draw breath. 'Do you know its meaning? Did you understand it when my brother begged you before you drove your sword through his chest or when you cast your weak pathetic spell upon him to stop his reincarnation or when you hunted him down in the Human world.'

"I want what is mine!" She screamed in rage, why couldn't anyone see that? That she had found a way to liberate her brother and herself from the madness and torture they endured as Humans at the hands of their father. How she had been forced into his bed every night and all his friends and guests when she had come of age, that her father had soon turned his eye on Malik... so she searched for anyone that could help her and she found him.

Her Master made her strong showed her how to give up parts of herself to become something that no one would ever use or humiliate again. He taught her magic, showed her how to harness her powers that had been there all that time. Two years she trained with him, she trusted and respected him as her mentor, only he too eventually did just what she had been trying to escape from... he had raped her one night, a brutal attack that made no sense to her, when he was done with her, he left her on the floor to die.

A slave of her Master nursed her back to health only to have her mentor return and do it all over again. He imprisoned her, told her he had made a mistake in teaching her, turned her into his slave, his powerless whore for years. No one came, no one rescued her from him... no one cared. She was soon with child. Her Master was furious wanting to kill it. She in her rage to save her unborn child killed her Master with her own hands and freed herself.

She returned home needing comfort and safety knowing she would get both in her younger brother's arms, who would now no doubt be a man and would have taken over from their father as head of their home. Instead, she found her home to be nothing but a tomb of everyone she knew. Malik by the time she had found him, was Mated to a Demon who had cast spells and barriers upon him and erased her from his mind completely. She had begged, thrown herself upon Marik and Bakura's mercy to release her brother to her, that she would do anything.

She followed them across the country side in hopes that they would change their minds or let her be with them like a family. Her persistence was strong and their patience grew thin. A fight between her and Marik broke out and somehow Ryou had been severely injured, she tried to apologise, tried to help him, only to have Bakura drive his sword through her barely ten week swollen stomach... Malik her sweet caring innocent brother flew at her in a fit of rage and plunged his sword into her chest.

She lost everything in that moment as she was once again left on the floor to die. A vampire named Mai found her, nursed her back to health and set her on a path to greater deeper powers that made her the creature she is today. She'd get Malik back and her revenge at any cost; she'd set her sights on Ryou, eye for an eye, Bakura's Mate for her child and Marik for her bother. She'd not abandon him like everyone had her. She might not have been able to save her unborn child, but she sure as hell could still save Malik from the clutches of that monster he calls a Mate.

A strong arm wrapped about her and she was lifted, she jerked away but her chains wouldn't allow it, "shh," an unfamiliar voice whispered in her ear. "I'm here to rescue you." her heart slammed in her chest as the chain was cut and she groaned as she was caught and gently lowered to the ground, the gag and blind fold were removed so too the spells.

"The Beast will kill us both," She rasped from the dryness of her throat and cracked split lips opened and bled as she tried to pull away from him.

"The Beast is asleep," he whispered cutting the chains from her ankles.

"He was just here," she couldn't see him, having been blindfolded for so long would take time for her vision to return. She had been in Touzoku's clutches just moments ago, hadn't she? She could still feel the pain of his grasp, the cuts in her skin.

"He's been asleep for hours," he wrapped something warm and soft about her body, had she drifted off to sleep and dreamt their conversation? She could no longer tell what was real and what wasn't. "What has he done to you?" A soft caress to her cheek and her chin gently lifted as something touched her lips and before she could pull away cool water splashed against them, she gripped his hands and drank it down thirstily. "Easy," he pulled it away only after a few mouthfuls.

"Who are you?" she asked as he lifted her up in his arms, this had to be one of Touzoku's tricks.

"I am Shada. Ella sent me to bring you back," she heard the beating of his wings. "The Gathering has started; your brother is there with all his friends, you are needed to fulfil your part." she felt the wind whip at her, the Demon had to be going at neck breaking speeds through the Beast's lair, one wrong move and neither would be leaving this place. She heard his enraged roar, he knew she was gone from his clutches and it was powerful enough to make her shake in the Demon's hold and her silent prayer that Touzoku didn't follow them. "I guess the saying is true, never take a Dragon's toy," Ishizu wanted to retort wanted to turn the Demon into some kind of slimy legless insect, but lacked the energy. "I'll care for you until you are well." He said, the beating of his wings gave a comforting whooshing sounds and she could smell the fresh air.

Shada returned to his chambers, he bathed the barely conscious Witch clean, who tried on more than one occasion to get away from him, slapped him even a few times, she was too weak to put up a good fight. He placed her in his bed and summoned for a Healer. Touya came walking into his chamber, though being a member of the Council he had been a Healer in his youth and would keep quiet about the Witch being in his care.

The old Demon reached out with a slight grin on his face, his hand going for her sheet covered chest, his wrist was grabbed and squeezed hard enough that he crumbled on the edge of the bed. "Touch her anywhere other than her forehead; I'll cut your hands off," Touya growled as his wrist was released and he placed it on the Witch's forehead and healed her wounds.

"The Witch's injuries are deep and severe, it would be best off for her to be in my care until she is well," Touya eyed her sheet covered form with other intentions that had nothing to do with healing her, there was no denying that Ishizu was a beautiful creature, she was stunning and powerful and would make one hell of a Mate if one had the balls to try and tame her... Shada was not that Demon and despite he had done some unforgivable things in his time, handing over a defenceless woman to be molested or possibly raped by some old Demon wasn't one of them.

"Leave," Shada growled, drawing his weapon.

"She may die without my healing assistance," Touya stupidly stood his ground, despite Ella paying him a ridicules amount of gold to do her bidding, would not stop him from removing the old Demon's head from his shoulders for his perverted actions or thoughts.

"So be it, if she dies it'll not be in your bed," the old Demon was about to argue until Shada shoved the point of his sword under Touya's nose and forced him to remove his hand from the Witch's forehead and step away from the bed.

"Fine," Touya snarled turned and left the chamber with a slam of the door. Shada sighed, sheathed his weapon and covered the Witch over with thicker blankets to keep her warm. Yes, Ishizu was indeed beautiful, but she was not the Witch with chestnut hair and cobalt eyes, that had his thoughts since their first dance earlier that night.

He walked over locked his door and laid out on the beat up old couch, hands behind his head and he too soon drifted off to sleep, with a younger more pleasant Witch on his mind that he would have to pay a visit to sometime soon.

Ryou slowly awoke face down on an unfamiliar but comfortable mattress, that same feeling of something else in the room, that same warm soft glow of another life beating softly with his. He opened one sleepy blurred eye to see fingers of light coming through the cracks of the balcony doors and the feeling was gone. Ryou pushed himself up, looked about the shadowed darkened room; clothes littered the couch, chairs and the floor, he ran his hand over the mattress to find it cold. He was alone. Bakura, Marik and Malik had been out of bed for some time, leaving him to most likely sleep in. However he couldn't recall going to bed at all last night, just that he had been at the first meal and it hadn't been all that bad.

The door opened and in walked Bakura dressed already and looked to have been up for hours and with a tray of food in his hand, "you're awake finally," he shut the door with his foot. "I had a feeling that you might have slept through breakfast."

"You could have woken me."

"We tried, like a billon times," Bakura raised an eyebrow as he placed the tray onto Ryou's lap and sat on the edge of the bed next to him. Ryou looked over the food that his Mate had picked out for him, a range of fruits he recognized, toasted bread and pancakes. It was a Human breakfast that he hadn't expected it, considering what they had served up last night at dinner and where they were.

"Just so tired lately," Ryou glanced at him, not sure what to start eating as his stomach twisted up unpleasantly at the sight of the food and his sudden craving for raw meat rose once again. Bakura regarded him in silent thought for a moment.

"We'll go see Seto this afternoon," Ryou about to protest until Bakura caressed his cheek, "your illness has gone on long enough without being properly checked or managed. Please I'm asking you to go see him on your own or go with whoever you like." Ryou nodded not completely understanding why he didn't like being examined by Seto, Ryou liked him as a friend and the Demon Healer had never harmed him, but he would make the effort and go, if anything it would be to ease his Mate's worry over his health. "Now eat, I fought fang and claw to cook you that breakfast," Bakura frowned arms crossed over his chest "I almost died in an epic battle of pots, pans and kitchen hands."

Ryou laughed at the over dramatics and motioned for his Mate to kiss him, which Bakura happily obliged by leaning over. It was like someone had flipped a switch within him, his craving for raw meat gone and replaced with a stronger need for his Mate. Bakura purred and Ryou shifted the tray and the blankets, and lips still locked in a kiss, he sat himself on his Mate's lap. Bakura's hand grabbed at his Mate's ass and his fingers brushed against the puckered entrance to Ryou's body and gave the Demon's hardened member a few pumps with his other hand.

Ryou grinded his pelvis into the heat and hardness of his Mate's very accommodating body. "Apparently horny too," Bakura smirked against Ryou's luscious mouth and he moaned again when Bakura pushed his finger into his Mate. Ryou shakily freed Bakura's already hardened member from the confinements of his pants. Bakura's grin widened, he loved that about his Mate, Ryou did enjoy foreplay as much as anyone when in the mood, but then there were times like this when Ryou just wanted him. Ryou used his spit to slick Bakura up, the Demon growled with want and Ryou watched his Mate's eyes, his irises thinned and his brown almost black eyes turn a dark crimson. Ryou raised up positioned Bakura's hardened member at his entrance and lowed himself with a throaty groan of pleasure as he was quickly filled.

"Fuck," Bakura gasped in a moan and his Human facade fell away to reveal his Demon form completely as he was fully sheathed in his Human. Ryou raised himself up once again; his knees digging into the mattress gripping onto Bakura's shoulders for balance and lowered himself. Bakura held onto his Human as he set the pace, rising and falling in his lap in form of steady bouncing. Ryou tilted his head back, eyes closed, his hair sticking to his sweat damp skin the longer he continued. Bakura ran a clawed hand down from Ryou's chest, stomach, brushing over his dark Mated Mark on his hip before gripping onto Ryou's leaking member.

Ryou's moans and gasps increased the closer he got to his climax and moments later his body tightened and he came between them with a cry of ecstasy. Bakura needing his Mate to continue moved Ryou's leg over his shoulder and hooked the back of his knee over his arm, grabbed his Human's rear end and raised him up and brought him back down. Ryou squeaked gripping onto him, a few more thrusts and Bakura grunted coming inside his Mate.

Ryou was practically purring in his lap, his leg slipped from Bakura's shoulder as he lent down slightly and kissed his Demon. Bakura flopped backwards on the bed, Ryou followed laying on top of him without breaking the kiss, "thank you for breakfast," Ryou said leaning up on his arms, his eyes darting to the tray of forgotten food.

Bakura laughed, "you're welcome," Ryou kissed him again and they laid there for a few more moments, claws lazily running up and down his back, as his tongue ran over and between fangs sharp enough to cut and tear flesh, but it was tender and sweet and his chest swelled with the love he had for his Mate and didn't think that he could love Bakura more then what he did... "Shit the Tournament!" Ryou moved his Mate's softened member slipped from his body as he was forced to his still weakened legs. "Sorry, but we need to clean up and get down there." Ryou was herded into the bathroom.

Ryou took a less than a two minute shower and stepped out, drying off and dressing. Bakura waited for him in the bedroom having already cleaned himself up and held his hand out for him to take. Ryou took Bakura's offered hand and he was pulled against him and vanished from the room.

"The Tournament?" Ryou asked when he found himself outside surrounded by a crowd of Demonic creatures pushing and shoving to find seats in what looked to be a large oval grandstand that over looked a tiled area, with a plump Demon walking out into the middle of it. He slightly recalled Yugi mentioning it, a part of the Gathering where Demonic creatures could engage in battle and very possibly to the death. Surely his Mate didn't expect him to sit in the stands and watch as Demon's tore and killed each other for the sole purpose of entertaining everyone here. "Bakura..."

"Malik's over there," Bakura turned him and pointed and Ryou spotted his half Demon waving at them. "Go sit with him," Ryou was given a gentle push in Malik's direction and when he turned about Bakura was gone. Ryou made his way over and sat beside Malik, who took his hand in his giving him his usual dazzling smile, which flooded Ryou with warmth as his hand was taken his fingers kissed and held to Malik's chest.

"The reigning champion will begin the Tournament with the first battle to defend his title, which he'll do throughout the Gathering, it's going to be great," Malik said his eyes focused on the tiled area and soon enough a crowd had swarmed the arena and grandstand to watch, everyone around them rushed about looking for a seat with a good view.

The arena was set up with enough distance from the castle that they were outside its protective walls, however he had a fantastic view of the lake, its surrounding forests and white peaked mountains. Ryou's attention soon turned onto his surroundings as he tried to spot Marik and Bakura, from the thousands of others.

'Which of you will test your strength against reigning champion for the last five Gatherings?' A voice boomed over the area as the crowd cheered. 'Any of you dare face the Master of Shadows? The once lieutenant of the Peacekeeper core!' Ryou raised an eyebrow at the overly excited voice that was playing up the strengths of this reigning champion and trying to strike fear in any potential challengers. Surely this Master of Shadows and lieutenant of the Peacekeeper... wait it couldn't. Malik looked just as excited as the crowd around them, 'The undefeated Champion, Kyoshi!'

"Bakura?!" Ryou shocked at seeing his Mate standing in the middle of the area with both his scimitars in his hands, his black wings flexed and an unpleased look on his face for all the names this plump Demon had given him, but the crowd loved it, cheering him on. Ryou put his hands over his face with a groan, what was his Mate thinking? He was deliberately putting his life in danger for a silly title.

"I challenge you!" a voice loud enough that it silenced the crowd but no one was able to see the challenger who had spoken as heads turned this way and that to get the first look at who would be going up against the champ. "I'm going to reclaim my title back, Kyoshi, you've had it long enough." The tone was smug and confident as if he had already won.

"Malik," Ryou gripped his arm tightly, his heart raced he couldn't sit here and watch as someone beat on his Mate, "stop him," Ryou tugged his arm, to go down there and pull Bakura from the arena.

"Can't once it's started, a barrier goes up and it can't be broken or taken down until someone surrenders, is beaten or dies," Malik patted his hand to ease him not worried in the slightest, "besides, have a little faith in your Mate, Bakura's been the reigning champion for five Gatherings in a row." Malik kissed his cheek, "watch the fight, you'll enjoy it more than anyone here, I think." Ryou looked at him like he had lost his mind, before he turned his eyes onto his Mate was who smirking as the challenger emerged from the crowd onto the raised platform arena.

"Have at it, Orrick," Bakura taunted him to attack him first; Marik sneered at his lover for using his name, summoned his weapons into each hand.

'We have a challenger,' the plump Tournament spokesperson said while running from the arena like his life depended on it.

"I'm not going to go easy on you Kyoshi," Marik slowly walked near the edge of the arena. The crowd Ooo'ed and Ahh'ed with every comment made like they were watching a soap opera. "I want my title back, you hack."

"Hack?" Bakura raised an eyebrow at the insult and pointed his sword at Marik, "Look who's talking, you couldn't hit the broad side of a barn if you were standing inside it."

"Was that a stab at my sight?" Marik growled.

"If the shoe fits," Bakura half yelled at him.

"Yeah! You couldn't hit sand if you fell off a camel," Marik retorted.

"You couldn't find your way through a maze even if the rats helped you," Bakura shot back. It wasn't anything new to see the two in mock arguments and childish naming calling and insults as an excuse to roughhouse with each other. "FYI, I deleted all your saved games from the gaming consoles last night. Every. Single. One."

"I'm gunna to kill you!" Marik flew at him his sword at the ready for what looked to be a fatal blow.

"Fuck!" Bakura's eyes widened and he barley blocked the blow, his feet slipped and he slid back a few feet at the force of Marik's thrust. The crowd erupted in cheers and calls as the fight for the champion title began.

"Get him Marik!" Malik was on his feet calling out, Ryou stared at him a little shocked. "What? I spent just as many hours on those games as Marik and half of them were mine." Malik called out with the crowd, cheering his Mate on. Ryou watched, as Marik defended himself with his shields and fire against Bakura's onslaught of shadows and dark cold powers. The blows were real, made contact to each other. They now moved so fast that Ryou couldn't track their moves until, Marik had been knocked out of the air and hit the ground, cracking the arena floor, he glanced up just in time to see Bakura come down on him. Marik moved just in time as Bakura drove his sword into the floor where he had been seconds ago.

"Malik," Ryou reached out and gripped onto his arm as Marik's blade sliced Bakura's arm drawing blood that soaked his sleeve instantly and dripped to the floor and they were once again moving too fast for him to track. "It's pretended right?" Ryou's heart raced, he didn't want to see them harm each other like this.

"It's real," The crowd gasped as Bakura was knocked out of the air and hit the ground hard on his side, Marik followed, Bakura dodged him skimming the surface of the arena floor, Marik flew after him, inches from him in fact. Malik sat down, "they can battle it out, but they won't kill each other and whatever damage is done can be healed." Suddenly the warmth in the air was sucked out. A huge blast of dark energy shot across the arena and into the stands, creatures took to the air or vanished before it hit, with a loud boom sending bits of wood and smoke into the air.

"MARIK!" Bakura's voice rang out as the tan Demon lay unmoving on the ground, his wings covered his body blocking everyone's view, his weapons some feet away, Ryou and the crowd were on their feet; except the crowd roared with cheer and clapping at the still reigning champion. Bakura dropped his weapons and ran across the arena sliding on his knees to Marik's side. "Marik," He moved his lover's wings and turned him over slowly, hissing at seeing blood gush from his left arm and shoulder, Bakura called for the Healers. "I'm sorry I thought you had moved."

Ryou and Malik rushed from their seats and down the stairs, pushed through the throng of creatures and up onto the arena. Marik clutching at his bleeding arm, "I thought so too."

"I could have killed you," Bakura lent his forehead against Marik's chest and his hands clutched at the other's shirt. A Healer rushed in placing her hands on Marik's arm and almost instantly the wounds looked as though they were being stitched closed with invisible thread and the skin healed over. Once she was done and Marik was healed, she walked off the arena and joined the other Healers that waited at the sidelines.

"I'm fine, once again you get to keep your title," Marik said as Bakura helped him to his feet, his pale lover kissed him and the crowd around them cheered.

'Our reigning champion is-'

"Homsha!" The crowd fell silent as Mahado stepped up onto the arena, "I invoke the right of Homsha and I challenge you Kyoshi." The crowd muttered between them and all three of his Demon's growled. "Will you deny me my rights in front of so many witnesses and be branded a coward and I'll be handed what I want." Ryou stepped back at the glance Mahado gave him; it sent a chill up his spine.

"I wasn't going to deny you, in fact I hoped you would have the guts to challenge me," Bakura's weapons vanished from their place where he had dropped them, "we end this now."

"Bakura," Marik's tone was serious as was his look as his eyes darted to Ryou and back to his pale lover a whispered conversation had Ryou slightly panicked.

"I know," Bakura said, his scimitars appeared in both his hands.

"Don't go too far now Ryou," Mahado grinned in such a way that it showed his fangs, "I'll be claiming you in a few moments."

"What's happening?" Ryou asked as Malik pulled him from the arena.

'How exciting, to have our first Homsha challenge of the season this soon,' this time the crowd didn't cheer, there was an unsettling feeling in the air. Ryou was guided to a row of seats with a good view.

"What is this Homsha?" Ryou asked feeling the worry coming off his lovers in waves. He focused for a moment on Mahado and then Bakura, as they stared at each other for a second. Bakura's skin changed, going almost white with a grey undertone, his wings even seemed to grow in size a few inches, his hair becoming wilder as energy drifted about him, his eyes completely black.

"Homsha is a challenge anyone can make to anybody," Marik said as Mahado released his black bat like wings and flew at Bakura with his weapon in hand. "It's a claiming right on someone else's Mate. The victor can do whatever he wishes with his or her prize, until they are called upon on and state their case to the Council to separate or stay together. However, the prizes of a Homsha challenge rarely make it before the Council or they are so broken they don't have it in them to willingly leave the victor." Ryou couldn't keep track of the battle between his Mate and Mahado, but every now and then, Bakura's dark powers would strike the invisible barriers that protected the crowd, it however tore up the arena ground, sending dirt and tiles into the air with a cloud of dust.

"If Bakura loses?" Ryou clutched his fists together, as Bakura hit the ground and slid on his side a few feet.

"You'll belong to Mahado," Malik glanced at him worriedly.

"Over my dead body you will," Marik snarled, able to see everything that was happening and by the look on his face, Bakura wasn't doing so well. Ryou growled under his breath, the Traitor was trying to keep his promise of having him as his Mate by the end of the Gathering.

Mahado drew on his powers to force Bakura to submit before delivering a finale blow; Bakura used his dark powers and was defending himself well between attacks. It was a savage dance as blows struck and tore flesh from each other, bared fangs and snarling. The longer the fight went on the more injuries Bakura sustained and weakened.

Mahado blocked Bakura's blow to his chest and was close enough to drive his sword into the pale Demon's side and yanked it upwards, his ribs stopped it from going any further, Bakura gasped as the blade was yanked out of his side and plunged back into his stomach and twisted. His Mate doubled over, blood spilling from his mouth as Mahado pushed the weapon towards his heart. Mahado lent in whispering words into Bakura's ear with a sick gleeful grin... obviously giving Bakura a little insight of what he has planned for his Mate in his bed. Mahado laughed at his own victory and Bakura screamed his rage as the black Dragon leaped backwards as he gathered his powers.

Ryou bared his fangs and narrowed his now golden eyes and raised himself slightly from his seat as if to get up, only to vanish.

"Ryou," Malik gasped glancing at his Mate.

Mahado released his most powerful attack; flames consumed the part of the arena where Bakura stood tried using his shadows to protect himself while he struggled to stay conscious and on his feet. He'd not lose; he'd not lose his beautiful delicate Mate to be used by this monster. His defences were torn away like fog in a breeze and the heat slammed into him. Bakura fell to his knees and shut his eyes praying that with whatever happens to him, Marik and Malik could protect his Human and waited for the flames to devour him, to incinerate him to nothingness... only it didn't happen.

Bakura glanced up to once again see Ryou standing before him, looking down at him from over his shoulder with an unreadable expression. The flames and heat washed over them as if Ryou had placed up a shield to protect them. "Come Ryou, you belong to me, Bakura is defeated. You are mine now," Mahado spoke taking a step forward.

"My beloved," Ryou said their eyes met for a moment before he glanced away setting his focus on Mahado and his outstretched hand for him to take, Ryou would take it sever it from Mahado's body for touching his Mate, "can you hold on for just a moment? This won't take long." Ryou picked up his Mate's sword and started towards Mahado in a casual walk, the tip of the sword dragged behind him, making an eerie scraping sounds and spiting sparks as he made his way across the arena, his narrowed gold eyes focused on the black Dragon. No hesitation as he picked up his pace, he swung the sword first right about Mahado's neck height, all intentions of removing his head.

It sliced through air before him and he stumbled backwards drawing his own weapon with a sneer. Mahado growled, "If you wish to fight Ryou, our Mating will not be pleasant for you, I guarantee it."

"We'll never belong to you," the ground under Ryou cracked like spider-webs and ran towards Mahado as Ryou's fury rose within him. He gasped when he was knocked off his feet by an unseen force and slammed down onto the ground. When he glanced up Ryou was standing over him – the blade was coming down right for his chest.

Ryou growled; his blade hit nothing but tiled ground. Mahado had vanished. He glanced about looking for him. "Let's not fight Ryou; I would rather be hearing your screams as you beg me and cry for your beloved Demons." Ryou yanked his blade free with a snarl and located Mahado some feet away, his eyes swirled with a fiery darkness.

He rushed at the other and the black Dragon parried his swing with an aloof smirk. But it quickly vanished. Ryou got him immediately on the defensive with well-aimed swings.

Mahado parried and dodged each blow, he grunted as he blocked a particularly savage swing and the tip of the blade jabbed into his chest. Ryou reached behind his back and pulled out the dagger Marik had given him and slashed at the other cutting material.

Ryou shifting his weight effortlessly and delivering brutal strength behind each new blow forcing Mahado to defend himself. He leapt back from a swing that would have eviscerated him. He turned sideways to avoid a sudden jab that came too soon from the swing. It bit into his shirt, but missed his torso. Mahado bent backwards the blade that flew up and almost sliced his face.

Mahado with a burst of speed moved in grabbing Ryou's wrist and turned them about. He flung him away, pushing Ryou off balance and struck, he drove his blade into him above his Mated Mark.

"Ryou!" Marik, Bakura and Malik called out to him.

The growl that rumbled through Ryou as he grabbed the blade with his hand, it cut into his soft flesh making his hand bleed. The crowd started to flee, parts of the arena burst into flames and some of the metals in the structure melted and crumbled, Ryou glanced up, his irises black and vertical and narrowed into slits, his golden eyes swirled with blue, his blue spark finally showing.

Marik had to place up a shield to protect Malik and himself from the heat.

Mahado stumbled backward until he was backhanded, with such force with a loud cracking sound, sending him into the air and landed some feet away. "You dare harm us!" Ryou raged at him, "this life belongs to Bakura," he placed his hand over the bleeding wound trying to stop it, "this body belongs to Bakura." Shadows moved from under everyone, the seats and even from the trees that surrounded them, it gathered like smoke and water at Ryou's back like a thick black cloud that resembled a storm with multiple flashes of energy that resembled blue like lightening crackled in the black mass.

Mahado pushed himself up, his jaw sat unnaturally low and hung down to the left at an awkward angle. He scuffled backwards on his rear-end, his hands and feet to get away as Ryou advanced, "I want to hear you scream," Ryou bared his fangs, "scream for me Mahado." And Mahado did, his scream was cut off however as the shadows instantly engulfed him, entered his body, through his eyes, ears, nose, mouth and eyes. "Where I'm sending you, you aren't ever coming back from." The ground opened up underneath him, tendrils slinked up and wrapped about Mahado and started to pull him down into the darkness.

Mahado stared up at him with one panicked stricken wide teary eye and reached out a hand before completely consumed by the shadows. The ground started to close up, claws shot out and dug into the ground and large black wings merged and flapped a few times, before Mahado slowly pulled his body out from the hole Ryou created. The Beast roared, his white spark could be seen lighting up between the scales of his chest and mouth and soon enough he freed himself as the hole closed up and the shadows drifted away and he took to the air and flew towards the sun and vanished from sight.

Ryou swayed on his feet, the heat and pressure from his powers were gone but for the burning parts of the arena, blood ran over his hand, his vision darkened as exhaustion consumed him, "Ryou?!" Bakura caught him in his arms before he could hit the ground. Bakura called for the Healers as he too pushed down on top of Ryou's hand to help with the pressure to stop the bleeding. Malik and Marik were at his side, everyone had fled the area, no Healers were coming or heard his call. "Damn it, you didn't have to step in like that." Ryou gave a soft smile, as he reached up cupping one side of Bakura's face.

"We still... belong... to you." the world tilted and darkened and Ryou gave in to the bliss of unconsciousness.

TBC

I think it was about time for a little back story on Ishizu, I rather enjoyed it giving her a little more depth into what drives her to do the things she's doing. Any of you feel sorry for her and I'll slap ya and you won't get dessert (even though I think you had it with that Bakura/Ryou part) I kid. However please note that Ishizu wasn't every pregnant, it wasn't noticeable when she fought Marik and Bakura stabbed. Let me know what your thoughts are, more to come. R&R it's like my bread and butter right now guys, so feed me a little love.